Muleboy, scene 1

Old-grump's dead. I'm chicken shit. No goblin sneaked him behind and killed him. His black heart failed and he died in incredible pain and cursing the dark god. He'll be glad to have him.

Woe of me! What am I to do? You see, I have a tiny little firebrand under my right armpit. That has my record number in the book. So if you go to the city and ask for my records you could see I was the property of late Old-grump. Me and the mule. Now, if I go back home without my master, anybody could say it was my fault or kill me badly, you know, just in case.

Besides, I'm kind of free now.

Free in the Borderlands, where nobody dwelves and monsters roam. Old-grum has a shady business, you see, he buys and sells from goblins and bandits.

I'm too scared of bandits, they'd get me and sell me off someone nasty. Or worse. They aren't kind to kids. I'll try goblins. You see, the mule has a hefty load of copper; goblins like it: "shiny!" Old-grump said they're honest, most of them.

I'd go there, to their village... if I can find it... I don't know where it is. First trip with Old-grump: just two weeks and he dies. I've made bricks all my life and it was horrible. Worse and worser than with Old-grump. They made me work the whole day getting clay into the boxes, and then more an d more. There's a huge wall to be built and that's what lil slaves are for! Among other things. It was good that Old-grump saw me and got me. You see, his last girl had died on his last trip, and I was cheap being young and stupid and all.

Or...

I'm thinking...

It's scary...

What if Old-grump buys and sells kids to the goblins?!

What if?

My! That girl didn't die. He just sold her!

To the goblins!

And the goblins are nice to him, because he provides him with slaves!

Or boy-meat!!!

I'm scared!

What should I do?

I'm leaving the mule behind...

And...

Go where?

I have food for a week, now, I gather...

...

OK, I know the bandits are evil.

They get the cross, worse than common murderers (they get the axe)

OK, Going back to human lands will take me like two weeks...

If I don't get lost

I'll take my chances with the goblins then...

Watch them from afar, if I can, spy them, see if they are good or not and then...

May the gods have mercy on this worthless boy.

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